1. Research activitiesProf. Arakawa and his group are aiming to develop the high-efficient converting technologies of various natural power sources. For the time being, our group is planning to perform the technology development for renewable energy, especially for wave power generation from the vibration of a large-scale ocean floating platform, the harvesting, converting and transporting technologies of unutilized wind power at high altitude, and the research and development of new materials for the platform and wind-lens turbines. The newly planned and present research topics are: (1)High-efficient converting technology of various natural power sources, (2)Wave power generation from vibration of a large-scale ocean floating platform, (3)Research and development of new materials for wind-lens turbines, (4)Harvesting technology of unutilized wind power at high altitude

Prof. Arakawa and his group are also doing the following research topics: (1) Dynamic fracture analysis of brittle materials, (2) Impact fracture behavior of advanced materials, (3) Thermal deformation analysis of electronic packages, (4) Mechanical properties of biomaterials, (5) Others.

3. Social ActivitiesThe joint research on the strength and fracture of advanced materials and development of experimental methods is performed with the research groups in and outside the country.

Research

Research Interests

Technology development for renewable energykeyword : Natural energy， Renewable energy, Energy convertion methods2010.04Mechanical Properties of Biomaterials
This research is concerned with the evaluation of mechanical properties of biodegradable and bioabsorbale polymers aimed for bone fixation and bone fillings, and the effects of crystallization and loading-rate on the mode I fracture toughness of Poly(lactic acid) PLA..

Research into the of polymer and polymer-based composite materialskeyword : Ｐolymerｓ， Polymer-based composite materials, Mechanical properties 2005.04Mechanical Properties of Biomaterials
This research is concerned with the evaluation of mechanical properties of biodegradable and bioabsorbale polymers aimed for bone fixation and bone fillings, and the effects of crystallization and loading-rate on the mode I fracture toughness of Poly(lactic acid) PLA..

Research into measurement and evaluation methods for the deformation of living human periodontium using an X-ray CTkeyword : X-ray CT, Image processing, Living human periodontium, Deformation measurement2007.04.

Development and research into new implants with an artificial periodontal membrane functionkeyword : Ｎew implants, Artificial periodontal membrane function, Development and research 2007.04Impact Fracture Behavior of Advanced Materials
This work deals with the deformation and fracture characterization of advanced polymers and composites under static and impact loading, the application of a high-speed optical extensometer in an impact test system, and the experimental and numerical analysis of loading-rate on the fracture properties of the materials..

Development and research into a stress measurement sensor and a power generating laminated body using piezoelectric material keyword : Stress measurement sensor, power generating laminated body, Piezoelectric material 2007.04Thermal Deformation Analysis of Electronic Packages
This investigation treats with the analysis of stress and strain concentration in electronic packages due to thermal loading, the experimental measurements by high sensitivity moire interferometry, and the comparison with numerical simulation by finite element method..

This research dealt with the evaluation of mechanical properties of advanced composite materials, and the experimental measurements by high sensitivity moire interferometry, and the comparison with numerical simulation by finite element method.

Thermal Deformation Analysis of Electronic Packages

This investigation treats with the analysis of stress and strain concentration in electronic packages due to thermal loading, the experimental measurements by high sensitivity moire interferometry and the comparison with numerical simulation by finite element method.

Dynamic Fracture and Deformation Measurement by Optical Method

This investigation treated with the experimental analysis of dynamic fracture and deformation of polymers, and the application of caustic method with a high-speed camera developed by our group.

Residual stress Measurement in FRP by Moire Interferometry

This project was concerned with the evaluation of residual stress in fiber reinforced composite materials, the experimental measurements by high sensitivity moire interferometry, and the comparison with numerical simulation by finite element method.

"Shrinkage Measurement of Light Cure Composite Resin Using Micro-focus X-ray CT images" which appeared in Volume 9, No.2, of Journal of the Japanese Society for Experimental Mechanics, March 2009, was selected to receive the 2011 Advanced Technical Award.

"Experimental Analysis of Unstable Dynamic Crack Propagation Behavior" which appeared in Volume 6, No.2, of Journal of the Japanese Society for Experimental Mechanics, Jun 2006, was selected to receive the 2007 Best Paper Award.

"Shrinkage Measurement of Light Cure Composite Resin Using Micro-focus X-ray CT images" which appeared in Volume 9, No.2, of Journal of the Japanese Society for Experimental Mechanics, March 2009, was selected to receive the 2011 Advanced Technical Award.

Educational

Educational Activities

At Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Prof. Arakawa teaches following subjects:Fracture of Materials, Strength of Advanced Materials, Composites, Exercises in Dynamic Strength of Materials, Experiments on Dynamic Strength of Materials,Tutorials on Dynamic Strength of Materials

Social

Professional and Outreach Activities

The joint research on the strength and fracture of advanced materials and development of experimental methods is performed with the research groups in and outside the country..